Tray construction and latching means therefor



March 3, 1959 w. 2,875,815

TRAY CONSTRUCTION AND LATCHING MEANSTHEREFOR Filed June 24, 1957 supported in an erect versely in front of the seat.

TRAY CONSTRUCTION AND LATCHING MEANS THEREFOR Donald W. Gill, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The Frank F. Taylor Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 24, 1957, Serial No. 667,422

1 Claim. (Cl. 155-121 This invention relates to childrens vehicles such as walker-strollers and is particularly directed to a tray and latch construction for use in such vehicles. 7

The present tray and latch are particularly adapted for use with collapsible walker-strollers of the type shown in my copending United States patent application Serial No. 667,421, dated June 24, 1957 for Collapsible Stroller. It is contemplated, however, that the traycan also be used advantageously with other types of devices; and that the latch construction can be employed for securing members other than trays.

' The principal object of the present invention is to provide a tray and latch construction by means of which a tray can readily be mounted upon a tubular frame and can be quickly and easily removed when desired.

The present tray and latch construction will be described in connection with a walker-stroller of the type shown in my above-identified copending application; it being understood however that the utility of the tray and latch is not limited to walker-strollers of that type. A walker-stroller comprises front and rear frame members which support a rigid seat, an adjustable foot rest, and a pivotally mounted adjustable back rest. By selectively positioning the foot rest and backrest, the device may be used as a walker in which an infant is position. and propels himself along the ground, as a stroller in which the infant is seated with his feet off the ground and is pushed by his mother or nurse, and as a sleeper, or carriage, in infant is supported in a reclining position. j e

The frame members of the stroller are formed from lengths of tube steel bent into the desired shape. The rear frame member is of generally U shaped configuration, and includes arms extending forwardly above each edge of the seat and a cross member extending transto mount a play tray upon this cross member for sup porting toys and the like within easy reach of the. infant. However, when the device is converted to a sleeper by raising the foot rest and lowering'the back rest,-it is often desirable to remove the tray toper'mit adjustment of the babys clothing,- covers or the like.

One preferred form of, tray and latch construction embodying therprinciples of the present invention comprises ametal tray having a depressed central section and a curved upstanding rim adapted to overlie the forward portion of the tubular frame. An enlarged opening is formed in each side of the tray rim for receiving the plunger of a spring latch mechanism carried 'by the tubular frame. 7

Each latch includes a plunger, or deteut, which extends diametrically-across the tubular member and extends outwardly through two opposed openings-formed in the member. These openings are formed in opposite wall portions and are of substantially difierent diameters. The plunger comprises a bullet-shaped nose which projects through the larger opening and an elongated shank of which the 1 It has beenfound desirable ice reduced diameter which extends outwardly through the smaller opening. The outer end of the shank is enlarged to form a head disposed externally of the tube for holding the plunger and tube in assembled relationship.-

A coiled compresson spring surrounds the shank and bears against the shoulder formed at the juncture of the This spring is effective to force the plunger outwardly through nose and shank and the inner-wall of the tube.

the opening in the tube, advancement of the plunger in this direction being limited to a fraction the engagement of wall of the tubular frame member. The plunger nose is of substantially the same diameter as the opening in the tray rim so that when the tray is in place on the frame the noseenters the tray opening to firmly clamp the tray in place.

One of the principal advantages of the present latch and tray construction is that the tray is easily inserted and firmly held in' place once it has been i the frame removed and yet is installed. In order to mount a tray upon member, it is only necessary to align the curved rim of the tray with the forward position of the frame and. to press the tray downwardly. I The bullet-shaped noses,

of the plungers are automatically forced to their retracted position within the tubular frame to accommodate down-' ward movement of the tray. However, when the tray is positioned so that the openings in the rim are in registry with the noses of the plungers, the'plungers snap outwardly under the force of the compression springs so that the noses engage the tray openings, and firmly secure the tray in place. The tray is held in position and cannot become accidentally dislodged even if the tray is severely jarred.

ing one or both of the noses inwardly while simultaneously lifting the tray from engagement with the frame. Another advantage of. the present tray and latch construction is that it is extremely economical to manusimple sheet metal stampopposed openings of unequal diameters. To assemblethe latch, a coiled spring is placed over the shank of the plunger and the largerbore until the shank extends out- I bore in the opposite wall..

wardly through the smaller Thereafter, the end of the shank is of larger diameter than plunger and spring are held in assembled relationship with thetubular frame. a I

"These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more consideration of the following detailed description of the upset to form a head drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a walker-stroller fitted with r a trayv and latch of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view in which a tray is mounted upon frame, and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

As shown in Figure 1, a typical walker-strollerlt) provided with a tray and latch construction of the present invention -'cornprises afront frame indicated generally of an inch by the plunger head with the opposite However, when it is desired to remove the tray this can easily be accomplished by merely press the smaller bore so that the readily apparent from a further 1 showing the manner a U shaped tubular.

thetray andlatching. meansconstitute no part ofthe present invention, these details being described and claimed in my above identified copending application.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, rear frame 12 is formed of tubular materialbent ina. U shaped configuration. The. rear. frame includes two. side. arms 18, extending-horizontally above theseat, anda cross member. 20, joining the forward ends of the side. arms. Tray 16 i's'adaptecl to be mounted. between the forward portions of 'arms 18 adjacent. to cross member 20. The tray is thusd'isposed in front ofian infant seated. in. the. stroller, ata convenient height for supporting toys, bottles and the like.

More particularly, tray 16 is. formed from any suitable material. such as sheet metal and. includes. a depressed central section. 21 surronndedby an upstanding rim 2'21 Rim 22 includes side sections. 23 and2'4 anda fiont section 25;"each of. the sections. includes an. outwardly extending curved flange. 26. adapted to overlie the adjacent portions of side arms 18 and cross member 20. The rear portion. of the tray is preferably provided with a rolled, or beaded rim 27 for preventing. the infant from contacting'any sharp edges. or corners. Side. sections 23 and 24 ofthe rim are drilled to formopenings 28 adapted to receive noses 30 of. detent members 31.

The. details of latchingmechanisms 17 are best shown in Figure 3. These latchingtmechanisms are identical with one another and each is carried by tubular frame member 18. Each latching mechanism 17 comprises a plunger or detent 31 which extends diametrically across the tubular member and projectsoutwardly through opposedopenings 32..and 33formedin opposite wall sections offthe. tubular member. Opening 33 formed in the inner wall'isfof substantially the. same size as opening 28 in the tray and is of appreciably greater diameter than opening 3Iformed'ii1 the outer wall.

Plunger 31' includes a generally bullet shaped nose having a rounded end, and a cylindrical shank portion 35'? of 'a substantially smaller diameter than the nose, the shank and'nose being joinedtogether at shoulder 36. The. outer end of the shank extends outwardly through opening321which is substantially the same diameter as the shank and is preferably counterbored as shown in Figure 3. The outer end of shank 35 is preferably hollow and is upset or flared outwardly to form a head 37 adapted for" engagement with the walls of opening 32 to prevent disengagement of the plunger and' tubular frame. Preferably the outer edge 38 of the plunger liesflush'with the outerv surfaceof tube wall 18'.

A coil spring 40'surrounds shank 35 and is compressed between the inner surface of tubular wall 18v and' shoulder 3G'formed' on the inner face of nose 30. This spring normally forces plunger 31 inwardly so that nose 30 extends through opening 33'and projects'beyond'the wall for a fraction of an inch; for example three-eights. of an inch. Movement ofthe plunger in this direction is limited'by the abutment of head 37 and the wall surrounding opening32.

As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, when tray'16 isinstalledin place, arcu'ate flange 26 overlies cross section 20 and the adjacent forward portions of walls 18' of the rear frame member 12. Side openings 28 formed in' rim sections 23 and 24 of the. tray are aligned with openings 32in tubular arms '18. andreceive noses 30 ofplungersfi'l. Thetray isfirmly' held in this position and cannot become accidentally dislodged even the stroller is jarred or bumped, or if the infant should pound upon the? tray.

However, the" tray can readilybe removed if desired by; merely pressing inwardly upon one or both of the plfungers 30, while simultaneously lifting the adjacent. portion' ofthe' tray to disengage it"fromthelatch'mechanism and tubularfr'ame member. To replace the tray; iris" placed'ov'er a forward portio of the-frame with the tray rim overlying cross piece 20 and the forward sections'of arms 18. The tray is then pressed downwardly to bring openings 28 into registry with plunger noses 30. As the tray is forced downwardly, the upstanding wall sections of the tray engage curved end 34 of the plunger noses forcing the plungers inwardly to a retracted position against the force of compression springs 40. When the tray is fully inserted,- noses 30' of the plungers 31- snap outwardly through openings 28 in the tray rim to hold the tray firmly in. place as explained above.

Inproducing a latching mechanism of the present invention, tubular frame member 18 is drilled'to formopposed openings 33 and 32 of different diameters. Plunger 31 is cast ormachined to form a nose 30 and ashank portion 35 of reduced-diameter. A spring is placed over shank portion 35 and the assembled spring and shank are inserted through the larger opening in the frame until the end of the shank projects. outwardly through. smaller opening 32. This end ofthe shank is then upset or flared in any suitable manner to hold the plunger and spring in assembled relationship with the tubular frame.

From the foregoing disclosure of the general principles of the present invention. and the above detailed. descrip tion. of. a preferred embodiment, .those skilled inthe art will. readily comprehend various modifications to which:

the invention. is susceptible. For example, the present tray andlatchcan be used in conjunction withother types of vehicles than the walker-stroller shown. Moreover, the present latch construction canbe used to secure members other than a tray in assembled relationship with-a tubularframe.

Havingdescribed my invention, I claim:

A tray and latch construction for use with. walkerstrollers and the like including agenerally U shapedztubular frame. member. havingtwo spaced arms and a connect ingsegment joining said. arms, said trays comprising adepressed .center section, an upstanding. rim surroundingsaid;

center. section, said rim. having. a curved flange adapted to. overlie thearms and connecting segment of said:tubular frame member, openings formedin opposed wallsofsaid rim, eacharm of the tubular member having two aligned openings. formed in opposite walls thereof, one ofQsaid openingsbeing disposed adjacent to said tray and beingof larger. diameter thanthe other ofsaidl openings, a. detent member. associated with each arm, each of said detent members extending. across said tubular member andin' eluding a bullet-shaped noseprojecting outwardly through. said larger. opening, said nose beingadapted for reception within oneof'th'e openings in said tray rim, a shankportion. connected to said nose and extendingv outwardly throughlthe. smaller. of. said. openings, a headformed on the endof said shank, and' a coil springcarried by said shank, said spring being adapted to be. compressedbetween the tubular wall adjacent to said smaller opening an'd'said'nose, and being effective to urge said nose out- WardIy through the larger opening.

References Cited in the'file of this patent- UNITED: STATES PATENTS- 

